Daily Steel Materials & Market Intelligence Report – April 20, 2026

Base metals showed mixed performance: Copper declined (-$59/tonne) while Nickel gained (+$81/tonne)

Lithium carbonate surged +$240/tonne on strong EV battery demand

Aluminum, zinc, and tin all posted modest gains

Flange & Pipe Fitting Industry:

Data center construction continues to drive industrial demand (sole growth driver in March 2026)

Construction input prices rose 18% annualized in Q1 due to oil price surge

Iran conflict caused 22.8% month-over-month increase in project abandonments

China Zinc Smelter Purchase Team set Q2 2026 treatment charges at $35-70/tonne

Overseas Market Developments:

Asia: Indonesia revised mineral export regulations; China sulfuric acid export ban takes effect May 1, 2026

North America: Data center boom masking weakness in other commercial construction segments

Europe: EU CBAM creating pressure on steel imports; green steel cost gap narrowing

Middle East: Strait of Hormuz closure threats monitoring for copper flow disruptions

Key Risks to Monitor:

 

Geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices and project viability

China sulfuric acid export ban (May 1) impacting copper supply chains

EU CBAM implementation affecting trade flows

 

Key Highlights:

Steel Prices: Rebar futures at CNY 3,134/MT (+1.19% daily), reaching two-week high on seasonal demand recovery

China Steel Corp: Announced 5th consecutive monthly price increase (NT$1,000-1,200/ton for May)

Global Demand Forecast: World Steel Association projects 0.3% growth in 2026 (1.724B tons), 2.2% in 2027 (1.762B tons)

Industry News:

 

Construction input costs rose 18% (annualized) in Q1 2026 due to oil price surge

Data center construction boom driving commercial planning; without it, sector would be down 12.7%

Project abandonments surged 22.8% in March amid geopolitical economic stress

Overseas Market Trends:

North America: Strong infrastructure and semiconductor facility investment

Europe: Green steel cost gap narrowing; CBAM affecting import economics

Asia-Pacific: China leading production with domestic price increases signaling confidence